Genre Basics
What is a genre?
A type or category of book/story.
This genre can include dragons, magic, and talking animals.
Fantasy
This genre often includes space, robots, or futuristic technology.
Science fiction
Name one type of technology you might find in science fiction.
What does the word “historical” mean?
History
What genre tells about events that could really happen?
Realistic fiction
Name one element you might find in a fantasy story.
Magic, mythical creatures, imaginary worlds, talking animals, etc.
This genre is made-up but could happen in real life.
Realistic Fiction
Would a story about astronauts exploring Mars be a good example of science fiction? Why?
Yes. Exploring Mars involves space exploration and science.
What time period does historical fiction take place in?
Any time period that is not current or future.
What genre includes magic or imaginary creatures?
A girl discovers a magical door to a kingdom ruled by fairies. What genre?
Fantasy
This genre usually has a problem or crime that needs to be solved.
Mystery
How is science fiction often connected to science or technology?
It often explores what science and technology could make possible.
Can a historical-fiction story have made-up characters? Explain.
Yes.
What genre often includes clues and a crime to solve?
Mystery
A story has a talking dog, but everything else could happen in real life. Is it realistic fiction or fantasy?
Fantasy, because a talking dog cannot happen in real life.
This genre takes place in the past.
Historical Fiction
A scientist creates a robot that can think and make decisions. What questions might this story explore?
students might suggest questions about whether robots can have feelings, whether technology is helpful or dangerous, etc.
Why might an author include real people or events in a historical fiction story?
To make it seem more realistic.
This story follows a young girl living in 1944 who has a fictional family, but the story includes real events from World War II. What genre is it?
Historical Fiction
Can fantasy stories have real places, such as New York City?
Yes. Fantasy can take place in a real location but include magical or impossible elements.
How are fantasy and science fiction alike?
Both can contain imaginary elements that aren't part of everyday life. Science fiction often uses science/technology, while fantasy often uses magic or supernatural elements.
A story takes place 100 years in the future and includes flying cars, artificial intelligence, and robots. What makes these details fit the genre?
The futuristic technology and ideas about what science might make possible are characteristics of science fiction.
A story has a fictional character living through a real historical event. What makes it historical fiction?
It combines fictional storytelling with a real historical time, setting, event, or situation